Galvanizing-rack centrifuge



Oct. 28, 1 930. c. A. GIBLIN 1,779,934

GALVANIZING RACK CENTRIFUGE Filed Aug. 15, 1928 INVEN'EOR Uluzi-les rd.zblcn ATTORNEY i Patented out. 28, 1930 UNITED srArEs ATEN OFFICECHARLES A. eIBLrnonwEsTrIELn, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO HENRYB; NEWHALLCORPORATION, or een-woonnnw annsnvjA CORPORATION on NEW JERSEYf'GALvAnIzING-nAcK: CENTRIEUGE,

Application 'filed August 15, 1928. Serial No. 299,845.

I My present invention'relates to a method f of, and apparatus for,coating and has particular reference to a method of, and apparatu's for,galvanizing and centrifuging objects 50f varied shapes. I

It has been cus'tomary to galvanize iron articles, en masse', byimmersing them into a zinc bath while in contact with one another.

After this immersion the articles, such as screws, bolts and the like,are usually sub jected to centrifugal action, in" a perforated metalbasket, in order to remove the excess zinc from them, and thusleave'themuniformly coated. i I

It often occurs that articles to be galvani'zed and centrifuged for theremoval of ex"- cess coating are too large for such mass treatment,which is satisfactory for small arti; cles, and, therefore, such largerarticles must have separate treatment in isolated condition, but inplural quantities to satisfy commercial output requirements, includingsmooth evencoating; {rapidity nd continuity of process and economyof'ihaterial and cost; 7 i I have devised a new process and appara, tusforcoating articles and to accomplish the foregoing'objects by removingexcess coating from the coated articles, in which the articles at notime contact with a basket or each other '30 during the coating orsubsequent treatment steps.

- My method, in addition, is applicable to articles of complexshape,fsuch as uniform, or irregularly contoured castings having "aplurality of apertures therein, which ordinarily wouldbeexceedinglydifiicult to treat in the usual dipping and centrifuging processes asheretofore practiced.

Aecordinglymne of the main objects of my p'resent'invention is toprovide a method of, and apparatus for, coating articles in which aplurality of articles of complex or simple shape a-nd bulk may be coatedor hot-dipped in galvanizing bath, and then subjected to centrifugalaction to remove excess metal,

the coating and centrifugingsteps being ac,

V complishedspeedily"and without the articles touching oneanother, eacharticle of the l group being coatedor centrifuged apart from "5 theothers of said group, thereby producingafterthe articles and rackareremoved from galvanized articles of the larger bullrwith a moreuniform'coating than has hitherto been j Another object the inventionistopro vlde an apparatusffor galvanizing and sub; sequently removingexcess metal by centrifugalforcain which a portable rack is used in theclipping step, as the article-supporting means during the centrifugaltreatment, thus I insuring efiicient and speedy. movements betweensteps, said'rack being adapted for rapid cooperative engagement with acentrifugal machine driving spindle immediately the zinc pot. I v

I Still another object of the invention is to provide a galvanizing bathor pot and cen} trifugal apparatus in close proximity to one another,and by the provision of a rack lift-' ing means associated therewith toenable the operator to transfer, with' ease, the-loadedarticle-supporting rack, after dipping the loaded rack into and, out ofthe zinc pot to the centrifugalapparatus. Thus, the rack 'may be quicklymounted upon the centrifuge articles being coated in isolated positionsand not contacting with one another during the hot-dipping stepv andsuccessive treatment, and has, further, the provision of means toenableithe rack to be' positioned in driving position relative to avcentrifugal machine stud, whereby when the stud is rotated the articlesand rack rotate with it. e

Other objects of the invention are to im-v prove generallythesimplicity-and efi'iciency l of such devicesand to provide a deviceorapparatus of this kind which is economical, durable and reliable inoperation, and economical to manufacture. v

The inventive features for the accomplish-i herein "in connection withan improved ment of these and other objects are shown 'method of, andapparatus for, hot-dipping articles in non-contacting position with eachother, and then subjecting the articles to centrifugal force to removeexcess coating, the articles remaining in non-contacting position duringthe centrifugal step, which method and apparatus comprise mounting thearticles to be coated in suspended noncontacting position with eachother on a portable rack, then immersing the rack and suspended articlesin a coating bath which is in close proximity to the rack point loading,then removing the rack from the bath and moving it over a centrifugalmachine mounted close to the rack, the transfer being effected with thearticles and rack in the same relative positions as obtained during thedipping step.

i The movement is effected by a lifting device mounted in closeproximity to both the bath and centrifugal machine. then lowering therack into the machine, there being a ro-' tatable rack engaging studlocated in the machine, said stud and loaded rack being driven by asource of power. A surrounding protective casing is arranged about theentire apparatus, the lower end of the casing opening into a spelterreceiving trough, the upper end being open forthe entry of the loadedrack, the casing having a clean-out and inspection door therein, therack driving stud and rack being provided with interengaging meanswhereby when the rack is lowered into the machine it is engageable withthe driving stud and rotatable therewith, and finally rotating the studand rack whereby the excess metal is removed from the articles astheyrotate, the articles remaining in non-contacting position during suchrotation, the removed excess metal impacting against the surroundingcasing and dropping into the aforesaid trough.

A plurality of article-supporting racks may be furnished to theapparatus herein disclosed. whereby the racks may be loaded in advanceof the dipping operation, and

after the centrifuging be moved away loaded, to cool, be emptied andagain sent through the cycle of treatment.

.Many of the features of the invention may be used without employing allof them, as some of those which are not essential may be omitted,without departing from the spirit of the invention, though such omissionmay affect the quality of the result.

Moreoven'the apparatus in this invention is capable of.receivingvarious-mechanical expressions without departing from the spirit of theinvention itself. I

For the purpose of describing the invention, there is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing the preferred form of apparatus in which drawings:

Fig. 1 is a rear elevation, partly in longitudinal section, of thecentrifugal machine,

showing the article supporting rack operatively positioned therein.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation, partly in section of the zinc pot, liftingcrane and centrifugal mechanism, showing the article supporting rack inposition over the bath.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the article supporting rack.

Fig. 4 is a front and side elevation of an article of complex shape, tobe coated.

, Fig. 5 is a section of the rack taken on the line 55, Fig. 3, lookingin the direction of the arrow.

In the practical application of m invention, and referring particularlyto Fig. 2, the coating bath is denoted generally by 1. Specifically abase 2 supports thereon a pot 3, which contains therein the coatingmaterial 4. This material may be metal, paint or lacuer, depending onwhat is to be coated and t 1e process employed. The process disclosedherein is particularly adapted for galvanizin g objects and therefore itwill be understood that the material 4 is molten zinc.

A heating burner 5, disposed in the fire pot 6 serves to' maintain thezinc in molten condition. A waste gas stack 7 connected to the fire potGefi'ectively removes the combustion gases.

In close proximity to the bath is a rack lifting crane 8, pivoted on abase 9, and manually rotated by a pair of handles 9*. The bases 2, 9 and10 may be a common base, or separate. The base 10, upon which thecentrifugal machine is mounted is in close proximity to the bath andcrane, thereby rendering the transfer of the rack, denoted by 11,fromthe bath to the centrifugal machine, a simple task, readilyperformed by unskilled laborers.

The article supporting rack 11 is raised, lowered and held in fixedsuspended position by a block and fall or chain lift mechanism 12, thepulley rope 14 lazing manually attachable,

in Fig. 2, to a cleat 13. 1

Referring now to Figs. 1, 3 and 5, the rack or spindle 11 comprises ahollow-cylindrical member 15 having ositioned therein a series oflaterally exten ing brackets 16, having each theshape ,of an invertedknee- These brackets may be integral with the rack or they may besecured thereto in any well known manner, such as welding etc. The saidbrackets 16 are spaced from each other in such a manner that articlesmay be suspended therefrom out of contact with each other and the rack15. The said brackets 16 may be arranged in any desired radial positionsabout the rack spindle 15.

A rack cap 17, having a lifting eye 18 is secure to the rack spindle 15,which is open at its lower end 20. Thus, the book 19, of the block andtackle 12, supportably engages the rack 11, when the hook is passedthrough the eye 18 for lifting the rack and load. The bore 21 of therack spindle 15 is of square cross secrack spindle, "15.

' The centrifuge. or centrifugal machine is mounted on the base 10, andthe square drivlng centrifuge stud 42 receives therack 11,

when the latter "islloweredldown over it, A

' circular pedestal casing. 22, aflixed to .the base 10, supports anannular trough 24 upon,

- The casing 26 has spaced supportinglugs 2'Zintegral therewith. Thelugs 27 are bolted to the bell portion and thus space the bottom of thecasing free from the spelter receiving trough 24. The bottom of thecasing 26 isopen "andflared, as at 28, thereby facilitating the fiowofexcess chilled spelter from the casing into the trough A door 29, moved.The rack and articles are then placed in the usual quenching mediumticles removed when cooled.

hinged 'as'at 30- to thecasing'26, maybe opened by a knob 31, to inspectand clean the interior of the casing, as desired.

, A combined vertical motor base and pedestal 32, has bolted thereto amotor 33, which is connected to acurrent source; by a circuit closingswitch 34; A spur pinion 36 mounted on the shaft of the motor 33 meshes3 with a gear37, which is housed within the bell-shaped portion of thetrough 24. The

gear 37 is aflixedyto a shaft 41 rotatably mounted in the bearing 32,withathrust collar 39 positioned therebet-ween. The gear 37' alsosupports on it a turntable 38 which'serves as a cover for thebell-shaped portion 25,

andthus prevents the thrown-off metal from being spattered over thedriving mechanism,

. disposed below the casing 26. The rack driving spindle42, which is acontinuation of the shaft 41, projects through the gear hub 40, wherebythe parts 37,38, 40, 41 and 42'are in fixed driving assembly.

It will now be seenvthat when the loaded rack 11 is lowered over thedriving spindle 42, the former will easily slide down upon the latteruntil the end 20 of the member 15 of said rack 11 contacts with the hub40. The

stud or driving spindle 42 is of a square cross" I to first suspend theempty rackll from the lifting hook 19. Inthis position the articles 43are suspended from the rackhooks 16 in position as shown in Fig; 2.These articles 'may be pipe fittings, cup shaped castings and articlesof irregular and complex shape, as shownby 43, Fig. 4. It should benoted that when positioned on the hooks 16, they a are not only innon-contacting position with each other, butthey donot touch the members 15 of said rack 11.

The rack is then lowered into the zinc pot .4 by means of the block andtackle. After remaining a desired period in the molten zinc bath, therack is raised out ofthe bath. The

crane is theniswung by handle 9 to shift the loadedrack over the drivingspindle 42.

The rackis then lowered upon the stud or 1 .onthe hub 40.. The hookisremoved and the switch 34 closed. Through-the :medium of motor 33, gears36 and 37, the stud 42-is rotated and, with the latter, the articles43.As thejspeed of rotation increases, the articles assume a lateralposition 44as shown in Fig. 1, at right angles to their normal suspendedposition.

' Excessremoved metal from the surfaces of articles impacts against theinterior walls of After centrifuging vthe loaded rack is re- It will"thus be seen that I have devised an efficient and quick method ofcoating and removing excess coating from comparatively bulky articles ofsimple or complex shape,

casing 26,and falls into the receiving trough "as V in which the articlesupporting means retains the articles in non-contacting position withone anotherjduring the coating and'excess' removingsteps, and" whichmeans is adapted forrapidoperative connection with a centrifugal:machine to of the articles.

been givenyfor clearness of understanding, hence, nounnecessarylimitation should be understood. Further, the appended claimsshould be construed as broadly aspermissible in view of the prior art,since many and various changes may be made" without departing from thescope ofthe inventionfas defined in the broader claims.

I claim:

- 1. The method of galvanizing metal arti cles ofirregular shapeconsisting in first re The foregoing detailed description has i effectthe whirling 7 its 11o volvably suspending said articles froma supportoutof contact with each other and 'ina way topermit thein to be swung orturnedon their supports away from the plane of suspension and the axisof revolution thereof, then; immersing said articles with their sup portin a bath of zinc, then removingsaid articles with their supportfromsaid bath and rapidly revolving said support with said articlesthereon around said axis, thereby-*allowing said articles torbe swungradially outward by centrifuged force'towardsflthe plane ofrevolution'of their points of support during the revolution-thereon}whereby a uni-. form distribution of zinc is effected and sur-"described V rotary motion to said rack, members on said and for guidingthe same from the interior rack for suspending therefrom said articlesof said casing into thesaid trough.

out of contact with each other and in a way Siied at Westfield, 1n thecounty of Union to permit said articles to be swung or turned and tateof New Jersey, this sixth day of 5 with relation to said rack away fromthe July, A. D. 1928. a

plane of suspension and axis of revolution CHARLES A. GIBLIN. thereoftowards the plane of revolution of the points ofsuspension of saidarticles, and a means associated with said rack, whereby 10 said rackand the articles suspended therefrom may be dipped into a coating bath.

3. In a machine of the character described a rack, for suspendingtherefrom articles to be galvanized, a means for imparting a rapidrotary motion to said rack,brackets, having so each the shape of aninverted knee, positioned on said rack, for suspending therefrom saidarticles out of contact with each other and in a way to permit saidarticles to be swung .or turned with relation to said rack away s5 fromthe plane of suspension and axis of revolution thereof towards the planeof revolution of the points of suspension of said articles, and a meansassociated. with said rack, I 25 whereby said rack and the articlessuspended 90 therefrom may be dipped into a coating bath.

4. In amachine of the character described a base, a centrally positionedcrane revolvably mounted thereon, a coating bath adjacent c 30 thereto,a centrifugeadjacent to said crane on the opposite side from said bath,a rack, for suspending therefromarticles to be coated, detachablymounted on said centrifuge I V i and a meanslon 'said crane foralternately turning it from saidbath to said centrifuge 1 and towardssaid bat-h again, whereby said l crane may be employed in rapidsuccession for lowering said rack with said articles thereon into saidbath, thereupon to lift said 49 rack from said bath and deposit it formount- I05 ing the same-on said centrifuge, for removing surplus coatingfrom'said articles, thereupon to lift said rack from said centrifuge,for placing the same with said articles thereon in a quenching mediumand thereupon to H0 return said rack with other articles thereon to thesaid bath. a

5. In a machine of the character described a vertically positioned andrevolvably mounted centrifuge spindle, a meansfor revolving the same, anannular drip trough encompassing the same, a substantially verticallydisposed rack, for suspending therefrom articles to be coated,detachably secured to said a e I a 5 spindle for centrifuging saidarticles there-* I I 126 by, an impact casing for intercepting theexcess of coating material removedduring the centrifuging process, saidcasing being positioned over said trough and the lower end of saidcasing being open, whereby the excess 5 coating intercepted by theinterior surface of said casing may be directed by gravity tosaidtrough, and a means forshielding said a. revolving means from saidexcess coating i 13o

